LAUSR

Nowadays, the emergence of superbugs is one of the most serious public health problems. Strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae , resistant to many antimicrobials available in clinical practice, have become increasingly common. The development of new drugs for the treatment of infections caused by these pathogens is necessary and urgent. A series of 11 analogs of marine 3-alkylpyridine alkaloids was evaluated in vitro for its antibacterial potential. Compound 6 , a synthetic analog of viscosaline, exhibited significant activity against S. aureus , including an MRSA strain (MIC = 2 µg/mL). Additionally, it exhibited a 25% reduction in mature biofilm and a good selectivity index (SI > 16). None of the compounds exhibited activity against K. pneumoniae , but analog 6 was able to act in planktonic cells in the presence of polymyxin B at sub-inhibitory concentration. Compound 6 has promising anti-staphylococcal activity and future assays are encouraged to investigate their therapeutic potential.